In something of a mission turnabout, some 20 young people from the Church of the Redeemer and Main Street Missionary Baptist Church in Biloxi, Mississippi are coming to Massachusetts in late May to help paint and refurbish Esperanza Academy in Lawrence. Esperanza Academy is an independent, tuition-free middle school for girls founded by Grace Church, Lawrence and Christ Church, Andover, with support from numerous other diocesan congregations and individuals.
Bishop Tom Shaw preached about healing ministries in a Holy Tuesday
sermon at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul and hours later carried the
message to the State House in testimony supporting reforming the
Criminal Offender Record Information system. CORI records can block
former prisoners’ or individuals’ access to housing, education and
employment, in some cases for misdemeanors or non-convictions or
dismissed cases.
On Holy Tuesday, long after Bishop Tom Shaw had testifed for CORI reform at the State House, the Rev. David Fredrickson of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Wareham testified before the Joint Committee on Emerging Technologies and Economic Development to oppose the governor’s bill to allow casino gambling in Massachusetts. Fredrickson helped lead a successful effort to pass a resolution opposing expansion of casino gambling at the Diocesan Convention Nov 2-3. The Massachusetts Council of Churches had waged a 2 ½ year campaign against the legislation.
Bishop Shaw tours the neighborhood with the Rev. Jacqueline Schmitt (l); Bishop Shaw talks with St. Paul's Table guests (r).
Image: Maria Plati
As part of the diocesan focus on global mission, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Watertown is joining others in planning a pilgrimage to Israel-Palestine, Nov. 9-22 (approximate dates). They invite others to join them.
Three Episcopal churches in Fall River are in the process of merging into a new parish and held a covenant signing worship service Sunday, April 6 at the Church of the Ascension, soon to be named the Church of the Holy Spirit. The three churches merging are: the Church of the Ascension, St. Mark’s Church and St. John’s-St. Stephen’s Partnership.